Chapter Five

Deer me. When darkness calls, don’t answer.

That night I crawled into bed, utterly spent. Violet and Rowan had spent the rest of the day testing my spell-breaking abilities, and despite a few mishaps I managed to shatter every single spell they sent my way. Eventually though, I was starving, exhausted, and my energy was too drained for any more. Rowan had promised we’d pick up again tomorrow morning.

Kade wasn’t back yet, but Finn was. He crawled up on the bed next to me, like we used to, snuggling his warmth into my side. I’m so glad you’re here, I murmured, tiredness catching up with me. I’m turning into one of those shifters who can’t sleep alone anymore.

Finn’s deep chuckle was nice, allowing more of the dark clouds of sleep to pull me under. You’ve never liked to sleep on your own, but you do like to have your own space in the bed.

So true. I used to enjoy sleeping on my stomach, spreading right out so all my limbs were nicely stretched. Now Kade tended to wrap me up, and even though I had thought I would hate that … I didn’t. Being molded to him was much better than free space.

I have not heard of a spell breaker in many years. Finn had been following my progress today, same as I followed his through the streets of New York. A strong magic born, or witch, can use a counter spell to break other spells, but that is not what you are doing. You don’t have to be stronger, more powerful, able to think up a spell to counter another, you are simply breaking the mecca energy, breaking the bonds … almost like you’re controlling the mecca. It’s incredible.

I was silent for a bit, staring up at the dark roof, before I let out a deep breath of weariness. I will take any advantage I can get at this stage, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with all the gifts I am receiving. Feels almost like too much.

Finn nuzzled me again. Don’t question what is. You are unique in this world. Unique beings are often blessed with powers no other has.

I smiled, drifting off to the soothing and familiar rumble of Finn’s chest. The comfort of sleep was exactly what I needed. Darkness took me, and for a while I had no concept of time or space as I drifted, until a tendril of energy caught my attention. It was shadowy, but somehow also sparkling, like moonlight washing across a midnight sky. Its beauty was stunning, the pull it had on me complete, and I didn’t hesitate to reach for it.

The moment I touched it, my fae side responded. Although depleted from all my spell work and training, there was enough left within me to rise up and intertwine with the dark tendril. A jerk around my energy caused a flicker of unease to sprout, and I was just wondering if I’d made a mistake when I was swept through time and space.

This was reminiscent of my dream-walking with Violet, except it was heavier, murkier, and I felt completely out of control. Suddenly my bare feet slammed down hard onto an icy, frozen-over lake. I could feel the cold and I found myself asking the question … was this actually a dream?

I spun in a full circle, trying to take in my surroundings. I had no idea how these dream worlds could feel so real. It was almost like a physical part of myself was standing there, able to interact with this place. It was quite dark, an eerie kind of twilight. I stood in the middle of a frozen lake, unable to see much outside of the small space I occupied; the air held an icy chill that was causing sharp pains and a numbing sensation to all exposed skin. It was the sort of weather that would kill a human in minutes if they didn’t have adequate protection. As a shifter, I would have a little longer.

But not much.

I couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity. Not the lake. I knew I hadn’t been here, but this world’s energy. It felt like … the Otherworld. A strong and bitter version, like the energy had gone a little sour in the time since I was here last.

I focused on the few dying trees I could make out along the lake’s edge, and I was about to start walking toward them when I heard a deep rumble of laughter behind me. I had no weapons, not even a pair of boots as I was dressed in my pajamas. I was definitely at a disadvantage.

Turning slowly, I came face to face with a tall fae. I recoiled as waves of inky power swirled in arcs around him, shrouding his face and body so I could not see him clearly. I knew who he was, though. There was no other being it could be. The Dark Fae Lord. Something inside of me, deep in my soul, could feel the true evil energy this fae wielded. It was strong and elemental like the mecca, but also … not. Like the energy of this land, it felt bitter and sour.

He took another step toward me and some of the fogginess of his features disappeared. As his face came into sight, I was surprised by how handsome he was. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but definitely not the broad shoulders and shoulder-length blond hair he was sporting. His features were sharp and defined, dark eyes shrewdly watching me.

The only thing, outside of the darkness he wore like a cloak — that indicated he was not a regular fae — was a set of deer antlers coming from each side of his head. The tips of them looked like they had been dipped in a black oily substance, which matched the fae’s eyes. No white showed at all, just pure and eerie blackness. In his hand was a long staff; at its tip sat a black, multi-faceted crystal, which I could now see powered that swirling dark energy that surrounded him. Well, it looked like the dark fae definitely had one of the crystals. Shit.

“What do you want?”

I cut right to it. Because I was pretty sure my feet would end up frostbitten if I stood here much longer. I would have to shift to my wolf soon and run if he didn’t let me go.

“Arianna...” He drawled my name in a low, seductive purr. It immediately set every nerve in my body on edge, and I fought against my dual instincts to attack or run. The fae opened his arms wide and walked closer to me, looking my body up and down with a gaze that would have gotten him an ass kicking if Kade had been here. No way would the bear have been able to control his temper.

The Dark Fae Lord showed no signs of stopping. He was getting far too close for comfort, so I reached for my energy. Thankfully it responded, even though we were in a dream world.

I hoped it was a dream world anyway.

Pushing my power toward him, I said, “Stop right there.”

My voice held no fear. I was not the sort of queen to cower before a dark fae. That was not how I would lead or protect my people. I had a unique opportunity to observe our unknown enemy. I needed to find out all I could.

Heeding my orders, he actually stopped, even though the mecca I’d pushed at him splashed across his chest, breaking apart as if I had thrown a harmless egg at him. Great. I was screwed.

He grinned, showcasing the dimples in his cheeks. Which might have been cute if it wasn’t for the freaky black eyes. “Mecca magic won’t work on me.”

“What do you want?” I asked again, preparing this time to shift into my wolf form. She was fast, and I was going to have to get away quickly.

The Dark Fae Lord gave me a half smile. “Oh, I thought that was obvious, Ari. I want you. I want to rule Earth with you by my side.”

Stage five creeper. How did he know my nickname? “Don’t call me that. I’m already mated, and he does not like to share.”

He gazed into the seemingly endless black crystal on his staff and frowned. “Oh, Kade? I’m afraid I’ve seen his future and it ends in death. Might be easier if you start to distance yourself from him now. Together we can rule the world … we can command the dark magic.”

His mention of Kade’s death sent ice water through my already frozen veins. My wolf howled within me and I wanted to join in. But I couldn’t let this fae see how rattled I was. “Talk about my mate again and you’ll be the dead one.” This time I let my fae magic swirl to the surface, mixing with the mecca.

“Yes!” he shouted, nearly making me jump. “That’s it. That’s the magic I need. Your fae essence is so unique, it can harness the dark magic, just like mine.”

No goddamn way! I wouldn’t believe that. I was nothing like him … was I? So what if I felt some sort of connection to this icy land, to that book we found in the Red Queen’s room. That was just because of my connection to the mecca and being half fae.

“What are you?” I asked him. “How can you wield the dark magic?”

He looked toward the crystal again. He was spending a lot of time staring at the stone, a slightly obsessed look on his face. “It matters not who I am. All that matters is the being I have become. I am strong now. Powerful. I was born of the Fall Court, and they rejected me because I was small and weak. So I sought out true power. I made myself formidable.”

Sounded like he’d stumbled across the dark stone and was easily corrupted. His weakness had made him an outcast in his fae court, so he decided to create his own world.

But how could he just stumble on the stone? “I assume the dark crystal was … drawn to you, because you’re special, right?”

Got to appeal to their ego. It was essential.

His eyes were on it again. “Oh, yes. I was in the royal library. The book was hidden within another book, and I found it. It was all fate. The book called to me, and I used it to find the stone.”

So Baladar was right. There were two books. Which meant we definitely should be able to use our book to find the stone.

“You don’t have to follow this path,” I told him, trying to appeal to the innocent he used to be. The world had hurt him, and he had fought back. “There are other ways to gain power. Why are you allying with the winter queen anyway?”

His smirk died, and I was faced with a torrent of dark anger. “She is giving me the Fall Court and the Earth side of the mecca. I will use the Earth power to control and bend the Fall Court to my will, teach them their place. The same way they did with me.”

This was all about revenge for him. He wanted to rule over his old court, and the winter queen was the only one able to grant him that.

“I won’t help you destroy two worlds.” My voice was firm. I took another step back on my frozen feet. “This is not the right path. The darkness has corrupted you.”

He grinned; it didn’t reach his eyes. “It calls to you, Ari. Deny it all you want, you’re convincing no one, not even yourself.” He tapped his staff. “I’ve actually seen it. I know what I’m talking about.”

I forced my expression not to change, even though my insides were twisting at the thought that he could use the stone to view me. I wondered if we could do the same with the book, or the mecca stone if we found it.

“The winter queen has promised the Earth side of the mecca to her son…”

I was stalling, trying to give myself time to build up a mass of my fae magic. It was swirling just beneath the surface of my skin.

He shook his head, acting like he was almost disappointed in me. “Your stupid father will believe anything she says. No. I have been assured that in exchange for helping win this war, I will be given dominion over whatever I want. And I want Earth and Fall. I have waited a long time for this.”

This fae was … broken. I could feel the cracks littering his soul from a life of abuse and ridicule. Cracks which were now pure darkness and could never be reversed. My heart ached for him, but I also knew I couldn’t let the sympathy I felt toward him cloud my judgment. Because I knew that now he had seen my fae magic. Now that he thought we could control the darkness together, he would never stop coming for me.

I was going to have to kill him. Eventually. Straightening, I let my magic swell even more, preparing to blast out at him, when he said,

“I promise none of your people will be hurt if you side with me willingly.”

I paused in my attack, just briefly, as I let the horror of that promise penetrate my brain. An offer to save all of my people? To keep this war from ever starting? It was like I was back in the Summit all over again, having to choose duty to my people over my love for Kade. I had done the right thing at first, and it only ended in everyone being miserable. Then I chose with my heart, and I got my people and my mate.

My decision was clear.

“Go to hell,” I told him. At the same time, I released the gathered magic inside of me, flinging it right at his staff. He let out a snarl, his smirk drying up. The moment my midnight-colored magic touched the crystal, I was falling, and then with a slam I woke up.

Surging up from the softness of my bed, I let out a yelp upon seeing Baladar and Kade standing at the foot of my bed. Finn was whining at my feet and I realized I was shivering, teeth chattering. Reaching down, I felt my feet and recoiled. What the hell? They were freezing.

“Ari?” Kade seemed at a loss for words.

I pulled the blanket up as he dropped down beside me and ran his arms up and down my shoulders, warming me. I snuggled closer to him, thankful that bear shifters always ran at a temperature akin to the desert in summer.

It was Baladar who found his voice first. “Where did you go?”

I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around it. “Some dream land with the fae lord.”

My answer startled Kade and Baladar; both of them looked alarmed. “You weren’t dreaming, Ari. You were gone,” Kade said gruffly.

“I … uh … what?” I didn’t understand. “I went to sleep here with Finn. I thought it was just like those dreams with Violet in the Otherworld.” If I actually went somewhere in my physical body, then it did at least explain my frozen feet.

Finn ceased his grumbling, calming down now that I was back. One minute you were at my side, and then next there was a burst of cold air, and … then you were gone. Disappeared.

Baladar had deep concern lining his eyes as he chimed in: “Finn got me out of bed, and when I got into your bedroom it reeked of dark magic. A magic which felt very similar to the dark book.”

I ran a shaky hand through my hair. Damn. Somehow that bastard had figured out how to transport me from my bed and into his territory in the fae lands. “How is it even possible? How could he pull me into the Otherworld like that?”

There was a soft popping noise and then Violet was there, standing in her pajamas, hair a hot mess. “What happened?” she shouted as she looked around the room, focusing on something I couldn’t see. “Holy dark magic.” She waved her hand in the air above my head.

All of us were silent for a beat, which was pretty standard when Violet did her sudden appearance thing.

Baladar finally said, voice dry, “The Dark Fae Lord opened a portal and transported Arianna through it while she was asleep.”

I squirmed out of Kade’s grasp and scooted off the bed, needing to stand. My body temperature was finally beginning to return to normal, and with it came a frantic need to pace and throw my arms around. Pins and needles filled my feet, but at least I could feel them now.

Kade followed me, his eyes very dark and bear-like as he watched me closely. “Tell us what happened.” His voice was bear-like too, growled out between clenched teeth. He was not happy, and he would be even less so when I filled them in on what had taken place.

I took a shaky breath, continued pacing, and left nothing out. I told them everything, even mentioned how the dark magic called to me. When I got to the part where the dark fae talked of us being together to rule in darkness, and how he’d eyed me in such an intimate way, fur began to break out on Kade’s arms.

“I. Will. Kill. Him.” Each word was said slowly, thudding across the room with the weight of Kade’s fury.

I finished the rest quickly, my final line being, “So, he offered to call off the war if I promised to rule by his side.”

Kade was now in his half bear shape, towering over everyone in the room. “What can we do to make sure he can never take her like that again?” He directed this blast of words at Baladar and Violet.

Violet was rubbing her chin. “Arianna can break spells, so that’s why she was able to get out of there so easily.”

The dark expression did not lift from Kade’s face. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Violet tried again. “He’s a dark magic wielder, Kade, so we can’t exactly keep him from doing his dark voodoo magic stuff, but I believe that if it happens again Ari can get out of it in the same way. She has incredible untapped power. If she trusts in her magic, no one can hold her against her will.”

That seemed to calm my mate; fur disappeared, and he was back to being normal giant-sized Kade. Our hands reached out and found each other.

“Violet might be right. I’m just going to have to be more careful. Sleep with one eye open if possible.”

It didn’t sound possible to me right now. I was exhausted, cold, and wanted nothing more than to curl up with my mate and sleep for days.

Baladar frowned. “That won’t work. He isn’t physically coming into the room. He’s pinpointing her essence and snatching her from her bed in a millisecond, pulling her through the magical ley lines, those which crisscross all the mecca stones. Obviously, he is able to tap his dark magic into that network too. The best thing we can do is train Ari’s powers — teach her to hone her defensive skills.”

Kade did not like the sound of that, ignoring Baladar to say, “I’ll take first watch. Arianna, get some rest. The rest of you, we’ll meet first thing in the morning for training.”

I already knew that my sweet bear wouldn’t be able to sleep again until the Dark Fae Lord was dead.

Baladar nodded. “As you wish.”

Violet crossed the room and gave me one of her rare and brief hugs. “All spells are breakable,” she whispered in my ear, and it gave me a small measure of comfort.

I just hoped I wasn’t going to find myself on that frozen lake anytime soon. Or at least not before I got some more training with Rowan and Violet in. Alone in the room with just Kade and Finn, I sighed and walked over to my dresser to grab some socks. I slipped them on, and then my hiking boots for extra measure.

“What are you doing?” Kade asked, from where he stood beside the bed. Arms still crossed, face still frozen in lines of fury.

“Don’t ask.” I fell onto the pillow, pulling the covers up over me again.

If I was going to be caught on that frozen lake again, I sure as hell was going to have shoes this time. Kade curled himself around me, his warm palm stroking my back until I fell asleep.

I hadn’t expected to, but my exhaustion got the best of me. I woke with the early morning light. Kade was hunched over at the foot of the bed, a deep snore rumbling from his chest. Poor guy, he would never be able to keep up with night watches. And I had a feeling Baladar was right. It wouldn’t help either way. It looked like I was sleeping fully clothed from now on, shoes and all. Hell, I’d even sleep with my sword.

After a quick shower, I was dressed and ready for training. Kade was awake when I went back into the bedroom. I gave him a quick kiss and told him I was going to get breakfast.

“I’ll go with you,” he said in a husky voice.

With a shake of my head, I kissed him again, lingering for a few extra moments on his lips. “Get some sleep. If you insist on taking night shifts, you’re going to have to get some sleep during the day.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Promise me you’ll stay with someone at all times, and don’t leave the mansion without letting me know.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “You got it, boss.”

He chuckled. “About time you realized who the boss was.”

I pounced on him, wrestling him down, pinning his arms under my thighs. “You’ll never tame me, King Kade.”

His eyes were sparkling now, laughter bringing out some of the gold in them. “I would never want to change you, your fire or your fight. They’re the things I love the most about you.”

He flipped me over then, and I realized I didn’t have him pinned at all. His huge body pressed into mine and a moan escaped from my lips as our mouths met in a fiery kiss. He was just wearing sleep shorts, which meant I had full access to all those bronzed muscles, running my hands across them as our kiss deepened.

Need slammed into me. The need to claim my mate, to brand our scents across each other. Kade must have felt the same way as he stripped my clothes off, his lips kissing along my jaw and down my collarbone as he moved. The dark fae was fighting a losing battle trying to coerce me to his side. There was literally nothing in any world, no power or stone, that could tear me away from Kade.

Nothing.

 

Later that morning, I got dressed for the second time, leaving a snoozing Kade in our bed. I’d lost some time with our morning love making, but even in the darkest of times one couldn’t skip out on the beauty of life and love. None of us knew how many tomorrows we would get.

I made my way toward the main dining room, Victor, Jen, and Monica joining me. All of my guards took shifts through the night, making sure they were rested.

It would be a big day today. Blaine would have to go to the Otherworld; he’d already agreed he was the best candidate for the position. I still felt uneasy about it, but there was little I could do except have faith in him and his abilities. Kade also had to choose his representative today. We all knew it was a real priority now. Training with the fae, learning what to expect in the coming battle, and hopefully bridging the gap between our peoples.

When I walked into the dining area I was surprised to see Bianca, the Boston alpha sitting with Blaine and Violet, eating breakfast. The moment I saw her, an idea popped into my head.

“Your Majesty…” Bianca stood and gave a slight bow. Blaine and Violet just waved at me; protocol was long forgotten between us. Jen, Monica, and Victor joined the others at the table. They might protect me, but they were my family first. We all ate together.

“Bianca, lovely to see you again. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I sat on Violet’s right and started to pile food onto my plate.

Bianca took her seat again. “I wanted to ask your permission to move my pack and dominants into the city. We would like to be stationed here to help until the threat is over.”

She was a true alpha, one who pushed forward with the duty of her people in mind. If she had the proper lineage, she would have made a wonderful queen.

“Permission granted. Now I have a request I wanted to ask you,” I told her.

“Anything,” she answered readily.

“I’m sending Blaine to the Otherworld to train with our allies in the Summer Court. I think a second representative would be a great idea, someone else I can trust to be a liaison between our two peoples. I would like if it were you.”

Her sharp gaze remained on me for a few long beats. I could tell she was analyzing what I had said, working out how she felt about it.

I decided to add, “I want you to know that this isn’t an order. I know you’re an alpha with your own pack. You’re busy, and instrumental in this war, which are all the very reasons you would be my first choice to go with Blaine.”

Her head bobbed a couple of times, and her expression softened. “I would be honored. My people will be fine without me, especially when they are here under your direct command.”

I smiled. “I hear you have a very capable second-in-command.”

She nodded. “Jason. Very dominant. I definitely trust him to keep the shifters in line.”

Popping a piece of bacon into my mouth, I looked at Blaine. “Can you catch Bianca up on what to expect in the Otherworld? I need you both to leave tonight.”

“Of course, Ari.” Blaine’s voice was rough with unconcealed emotions. Something was bothering him about all of this. I wished there was time for me to find out, but he was already rising and turning to Bianca.

“Shall we?”

She nodded, standing again and giving me one final bow, before they both left the room together. It was a good choice. I trusted no one more than I trusted Blaine. He was strong, skilled, and dominant. He would make sure we learned all we could from the fae. But a second voice was also important, especially a true alpha’s.

Violet, who had just shoved a handful of grapes into her mouth, jumped to her feet as well. I tilted my head back to see her and she swallowed roughly, rasping out, “I’m going to round up Rowan. Meet us on the roof when you’re done with breakfast.”

With a shake of my head, I let out a chuckle. “One day you’re going to choke.”

Violet snorted as she left the room, taking her overwhelming energy with her.

Peering at Jen and Victor as they piled their plates high, I dived right into my breakfast, needing to fuel up my energy for the training I would undertake today. As I ate, my mind inevitably wandered to the Dark Fae Lord, that evil fae with the black-tipped horns. My road to being queen was already so rocky, it was hard to believe I was only a few months crowned. And while I might have taken care of Selene and her threat to our people, now it seemed I had three more adversaries to finish off before we all got our happily ever after. The winter queen, her son, and this dark fae … they all needed to die. If they didn’t, none of us would have a moment of peace.

 

The next few hours I spent getting beat down by Violet and Rowan. Their magic lessons were getting more grueling. I even lost the contents of my stomach after breaking a particularly complex spell — which didn’t halt their torture in any way. They trapped me in boxes and held me under water. They called it an extra incentive to break the spells quickly. Which thankfully I did, because I was not a fan of drowning — not one of my preferred ways to go.

Exhausted and starving again, I hauled butt away from those two sadists and went to meet up with Kade for lunch. He wasn’t in the main dining room, and after a few minutes searching I found him sitting in the magic library, on one of the old high wing-backed chairs. He looked stressed, leaning over the dark magic book, staring at the crystal on it, brows furrowed. Lying beside it was the cloth that Baladar had spelled to keep it contained.

“Hey, you all alone in here?” I asked, quickly glancing around the room.

He wasn’t startled; no doubt he’d heard my footsteps from a long way away. When he turned, a slow smile crossed his face. It was the sort of smile he always reserved for me.

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I said, moving closer to him. “If you discount Rowan and Violet trying to kill me.”

He chuckled, reaching out to pull me into his lap.

“How’s it going with the book?” I was surprised he was in here with it alone, but maybe his unique way to read the mecca was involved. I knew he’d wanted to keep an eye on Baladar and Nikoli to make sure they didn’t succumb to the book’s powers.

He let out a ragged exhalation. “I’ve been trying to get a read on this dark energy. Usually energetic stuff comes easy to me, but this … something about it feels different, and yet familiar.” His hair was all messed up, like he had run his fingers through it repeatedly.

I felt the pull of the book’s dark magic; it was strong. “Should you be so close to it?” I was half turned so I could run my fingers along his shoulders, hoping my touch would loosen the tight muscles there.

He pulled me even tighter against him. “I don’t feel too much pull, so hopefully I’m managing to resist its draw.”

I couldn’t stop the flashback I had of the Dark Fae Lord. He had been a handsome male, just like Kade, until the dark crystal corrupted him. But … he had sought out the power, Kade was already powerful from mecca and wanted nothing to do with the dark energy, so hopefully that would make a difference in Kade’s ability to resist.

“Did you know that Violet popped in out of nowhere today and randomly told me that the dark crystal could bring people back from the dead? Then she left. A few moments later, Baladar showed up with the book and asked me to keep an eye on it until he got back.”

I furrowed my brow. Why were magic born so freaking weird and cryptic? “I thought we were going to use the book to find the other crystal? Do you think they want us to try and figure out how to use this magic now? Like … read the book? I’m not sure messing with darkness like this is a good idea.”

Kade turned to look at me, his copper eyes swirling with concern. “I’m starting to worry that the reason Violet told me that is because she feels you might die in this war. Maybe I’m supposed to use this to save you.”

I shook my head. “No one is dying. Violet is still recovering from her time in the Otherworld. She sees death everywhere. She worries a lot more now.” I wasn’t sure if I was saying this because I believed it or because I just wanted it to be true.

Kade’s hand came up and wrapped around the back of my neck, pulling me closer, pressing his lips to mine. “Let’s go out. Get pizza, go for a walk in Central Park or something normal.”

I smiled. “That sounds perfect. Let’s do it.”

I missed normal. I would take any of it I could get.